A spokesperson from the Thayarwaddy District PDF reported that 8 military council soldiers were killed when resistance forces attacked troops who were attempting to forcibly recruit young villagers as porters along the Yangon-Pyay road in Minhla Township, Bago Region. The incident occurred around 10:30 AM on April 22, 2024, when members of Battalion 3802 Column 2 of the Thayarwaddy District PDF launched a surprise attack on military council soldiers who were eating at the ’53 Myanmar Restaurant’ near Anyatangyigyi village.
During the attack, 8 military council soldiers were killed and 4 others were injured. Following the clash, at approximately 2:15 PM, the military council retaliated by conducting airstrikes using Mi-35 helicopters on civilian villages near the Yoma mountain range. A PDF official provided details of the engagement, explaining that they first targeted two Pyu Saw Htee militia members who were standing guard outside the restaurant. When the shooting began, the military council soldiers frantically fled on motorcycles, commandeering both their own vehicles and those belonging to civilians.
As resistance forces pursued them, some soldiers jumped into the creek under the Kainpyingyi bridge to escape, where two of them died. Ten injured soldiers were transported to Minhla Hospital, where six more succumbed to their injuries. Following the engagement, Columns 2 and 3 of Battalion 3802 continued to conduct clearance operations in the area, warning that further clashes might occur. The PDF has advised local civilians to completely avoid areas where military council soldiers are present and to remain vigilant due to the possibility of aerial attacks.
The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between resistance forces and the military council in the region, with civilian safety remaining a primary concern. The PDF’s territorial control operations continue in the area, demonstrating the resistance’s commitment to protecting local communities from forced recruitment and other forms of military oppression. The closure of certain sections of the Yangon-Pyay road and implementation of travel restrictions following the clash indicates the significant impact of these military engagements on civilian movement and daily life in the affected areas.
